Sections 1.30002, 1.30003, 1.30004, 73.875, 73.1657 and 73.1690, Disturbance of AM Broadcast Station Antenna Patterns

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Supporting Statement OMB 3060-1121 (2013) AM Antenna Pattern Distubance.doc Supporting Statement A	2013-11-26

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
187431	Disturbance of AM Broadcast Station Antenna Patterns	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-1121	ICR Reference No: 201311-3060-016
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200812-3060-004
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: MB
Title: Sections 1.30002, 1.30003, 1.30004, 73.875, 73.1657 and 73.1690, Disturbance of AM Broadcast Station Antenna Patterns
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 02/10/2014
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/04/2013
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2017	36 Months From Approved
Responses	1,195	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,960	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,078,200	0	0

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Abstract: On August 14, 2013, the Commission adopted the Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration in the matter of An Inquiry Into the Commission's Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification, MM Docket No. 93-177, FCC 13-115. In the Third Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission harmonized and streamlined the Commission's rules regarding tower construction near AM stations. In AM radio, the tower itself functions as the antenna. Consequently, a nearby tower may become an unintended part of the AM antenna system, reradiating the AM signal and distorting the authorized AM radiation pattern. Our old rules contained several sections concerning tower construction near AM antennas that were intended to protect AM stations from the effects of such tower construction, specifically, Sections 73.1692, 22.371, and 27.63. These old rule sections imposed differing requirements on the broadcast and wireless entities, although the issue is the same regardless of the types of antennas mounted on a tower. Other rule parts, such as Part 90 and Part 24, entirely lacked provisions for protecting AM stations from possible effects of nearby tower construction. In the Third Report and Order the Commission adopted a uniform set of rules applicable to all services, thus establishing a single protection scheme regarding tower construction near AM tower arrays. The Third Report and Order also designates "moment method" computer modeling as the principal means of determining whether a nearby tower affects an AM radiation pattern. This serves to replace time-consuming direct measurement procedures with a more efficient computer modeling methodology that is reflective of current industry practice.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 154(i) Name of Law: Communications Act of 1934, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AJ17	Final or interim final rulemaking	78 FR 66288	11/05/2013

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 59029	09/25/2013
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 72885	12/04/2013
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Disturbance of AM Broadcast Station Antenna Patterns

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	1,195	0	0	1,195	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,960	0	0	1,960	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	1,078,200	0	0	1,078,200	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: On August 14, 2013, the Commission adopted the Third Report and Order and Second Order on Reconsideration in the matter of An Inquiry Into the Commission's Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification, MM Docket No. 93-177, FCC 13-115. In the Third Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission harmonized and streamlined the Commission's rules regarding tower construction near AM stations. Due to the adoption of the new rules, the Commission has a program change of +1,195 to the number of respondents, +1,195 to the annual number of responses, +1,960 to the burden hours and +$1,078,200 to the total cost burden. There are no adjustments to this information collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $16,215

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 12/04/2013

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